Plans for the ground-breaking Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) are still progressing according to the Federal Health Minister, the Hon. Sussan Ley, who restated the Government’s commitment to the MRFF at a health policy panel event on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our health system.
The comments confirmed that the much-needed fund will progress, despite the decision not to proceed with the GP co-payment, which has caused wide-spread confusion about the future of the Fund.
The Minister for Health was speaking at the George Institute’s thought leadership breakfast last week, where she also announced a new policy to work with health professionals to identify inefficiencies and systemic waste in the sector in order to provide better health outcomes for patients.
The $20 billion MRFF endowment fund was announced as part of the last Federal Budget in May 2014 and tied to a range of other measures, including the plan for a $7 GP co-payment.
The MRFF represents the biggest medical research fund of its kind in the world and was welcomed as an important investment for Australia’s future.
AusBiotech joined with a coalition of members from organisations representing all of Australia’s medical researchers, as well as senior business leaders to support the MRFF Action Group, to advocate for the MRFF. The MRFF Action Group has been in Canberra regularly, meeting with all cross-bench Senators, key Ministers and many other Members and Senators.
The campaign, ‘Imagine a Healthier Future’, has been working hard to support the MRFF implementation.
See the website and a summary of the media coverage to date at: http://www.imagineahealthierfuture.org/